22 March 2015
Animals and proposed burn
the issue raised where well summarised by email such as the following...
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Hello, I would like to add a couple of comments to Raymond Island News. My name is Carole Jones and I live at 70 Gravelly Point Road.
First of all Wallabies and Kangaroos from Terry, I absolutely agree with every word she wrote.We hear cars hurtling down the road every morning and go out expecting to see some poor creature wiped out on the road. We had 2 Shy Swamp Wallabies using our block until they were killed on the road, on separate occasions. We do live in a very special place and need to take care of the creatures that share it with us. A month back a young female kangaroo was hit by a car and just left there and I went up and helped the shelter lady catch and rescue it. All it needs is a phone call, nothing should be left to suffer and die a slow agonising death.
Also a reply to Mr Beckers about the burns on this island. A number of the sites he said are untouched are actually re-veg sites and obviously not untouched. Also the couple of areas at the back of the island are Mahogony woodlands and so decidedly different to the burn areas, numbers 2BBB0012 and 2BBB0029. We need to adopt new protocols and procedures for this Island not just lump it with the mainland.We don't want to be just fulfilling their burn quota of 5%, this is a unique habitat and needs to treated with respect.
Thank you.
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A resolution might be found by all parties coming together for a discussion.
Jane Ponting
Webmaster
PEDDLE POWER HELPS KOALAS
Surrey Bikes to visitors on Raymond Island. Since beginning operations
on Boxing Day 2014 the proprietors’, Victor & Victoria Trofimovs, have
been overwhelmed by the support they have received from tourists and
locals alike. Many visitors from near and far have enjoyed this unique
way of viewing the flora & fauna of this picturesque island.
Since its inception Ride the Koalas has been donating a percentage of
their profits to the Raymond Island Koala and Wildlife Shelter. So far the
shelter has received just under $1000.00. This money will go towards a
new treatment enclosure enabling carers to treat sick and injured koalas
more efficiently.
Ride The Koalas is particularly proud to sponsor the Koala and Wildlife
Shelter, as they don’t receive any funds from the popular Koala Trail.
Victoria & Victor are now donning their media hats, as East Gippsland
Media, and are leaving on the 100th Anniversary Gallipoli Cruise which
will retrace the route the troops took on their way to the World War 1
battlefields. The trip will leave Albany and take in Cocos (Keeling)
Islands, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Turkey, Greece & Italy. Victor will be filming the
trip and Victoria will coordinate the showing and sharing of memorabilia
amongst the ship passengers.
In their absence, Ride the Koalas will be open at The Easter School
Holidays in the capable hands of Islander Warren Shipp.
Follow Victoria and Victor’s adventure here on the web site as they
travel with another local Raymond the Koala.
Photo from left to right, Warren Shipp, Victor Trofimovs, Shelley
Robinson representing Raymond Island Koala and Wildlife Shelter.
15 March 2015
Japanese style koalas
Koala count 2015
The 2015 Raymond Island Koala Count will be conducted on Thursday the 14th of May.
This event is of critical importance to our understanding
and ongoing management of Raymond Island’s Koala population. Our aim is to
ensure that we maintain a healthy population and a balanced ecosystem so that
the Koalas of Raymond Island can continue to be enjoyed by residents and
tourists alike.
Volunteer participation has always been key to the success
of the Koala Count, and again we are calling for those who would like to be
involved to register their interest by calling the Dept. Environment, Land,
Water & Planning (DELWP) in Bairnsdale, on (03) 5152 0600. A BBQ lunch will
be provided for participants between 11:30am and 1:30pm – please register you
interest by Tuesday 5th May to assist with catering.
Meet at Raymond Island Community Hall from
9:00am for sign-in & briefing.
· Walks range from easy to difficult.
·
Children are most welcome but must be supervised
by an adult.
·
Please bring drinking water, sunscreen &
insect repellent.
·
Wear clothing and footwear suitable for walking
in the bush (long pants & sleeves, no sandals or thongs!).
·
Don’t forget sun hats or raincoats as required.
We are also very keen to hear from landholders on the
island, particularly those with larger sized rural allotments, regarding
potential access for counting purposes. We are very happy to discuss all
options, but would welcome residents to register who would like to;
Count their own block (count must be done on the
day)
·
Allow access to counting team
·
Deny access to property (counts will be done
from roadsides)
Please register on the number listed above, or via email Leona.wadegraveknight@delwp.vic.gov.au
Note: Count may be cancelled if weather is very wet or windy.
We will try to give as much notice as possible, but if unsure please confirm
with DELWP on (03) 5152 0600
RI Proposed Burn
I would like to bring to your attention and advise that some information regarding planned burning reported in the latest Raymond Island New Update is factually incorrect.
- Assessments of the overall fuel hazard have been undertaken across the site.
- The burn sites have been assessed by cultural heritage values officers in conjunction with the traditional owners. There are no registered cultural sites recorded on the boundary or within the burns.
- The proposed burn sites are not the 'last untouched parcels of crown land' on the Island. Fire prevention works are carried out close the main concentration of residents however most of crown land on the eastern side of the island remains 'untouched'. Refer green areas on the map below.
- Raymond Island has two recorded wildfire events fire events - 1981 (17 ha) impacting private and public land and 1992 (22 ha) impacting public land - please refer to pink areas on map below. Please note that the 4 ha planned burn scheduled for next year (south of centre road) overlaps the 1981 wildfire area.
Kind regards
Mick Beckers
Fire Management Officer - Tambo | Fire and Land
Regional Services | Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning
Regional Services | Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning
Kangaroos and Wallabies
Last
Thursday, about 9 am on our morning walk along Centre Rd, just east of Gravelly
Point Rd, we came across a very depressing sight.
A lady with
a young child had pulled up beside a young kangaroo which had both legs broken
and was threshing about beside the road, trying to drag itself off into the
bushes.
The
kangaroo had been hit by another vehicle, the driver of which which had not
bothered to stop to deal with the damage done.
This brief
note is a plea for drivers on the island to slow down and watch out for wild
life.
A major reason most
of us live on the island is because we are privileged to share our environment
with our fellow creatures. We need to respect their space.
We
understand that accidents do happen. If you are unfortunate enough to hit an
animal, please accept that you should stop and deal with the problem. It is not
fair to leave this responsibility to the
accidental discovery by others of an injured animal.
There are
volunteers on the island who are will do their best for injured animals. Can we
suggest that you put this phone number in your mobile phone in case you should
need it one day.
Raymond
Island Koala and Wildlife Centre 0447470905.
And
remember – any place on the island is at most 6 km from anywhere else. If you
slow down from the legal limit to 40 km/hr, it will only take you at most an extra 3 minutes longer to get where you are
going. Is a kangaroo's life worth that
three minutes? And, at peak times, there will be another ferry in 10 minutes
anyway.
Andrew and Terry MacGregor
Sunday 15 March
8 March 2015
Proposed burn on RI
Susie Pulis has sent through details of requirements for public submissions in response to the proposed burns on RI during 2015, and the potential for loss of biodiversity. The proposed site is on the last untouched parcels of crown forest left on the island and is home to hundreds of species of plants and animals. It is a unique area on the Island and needs to be protected for the future.
 |
| Proposed burn site: the last untouched crown forest on RI |
 |
| Site burnt in 2009 and mechanically cleared since, now Bracken wasteland |
 |
| Proposed burn site on Centre Road North |
· Susie raises the following concerns:
Species of plants, huge diversity of species regenerating without fire eg. Banksia serrata. Acacia mearnsii - no flora and fauna surveys have been undertaken to establish the exent of potential loss of plantlife and micro habitat.
· No surveys have been undertaken on the effects of previous burns/ mechanical clearing on the diversity of the Island's flora and fauna and, in particular, the spread of bracken fern.
The CFA has confirmed that RI has never had a recorded wildfire
· Fuel load has been classified as 'extreme' by DEWLP but no fire risk surveys have been undertaken - walking through the proposed block, the ground is visable, damp with mosses heavily used animal tracks with low leaf litter naturally eaten and broken down.
· No Aboriginal Archaeological surveys undertaken for the Traditional Land Owners The Gunai Kurnai People.
· Koala management on the site is for capture and removal from the burn site and then return at the end of the day, exposing them to a high risk of sustaining burns.
Contact details if you wish to submit your views - due 12 March 2015:
A sensible outcome will be to pause and review of all burning and mechanical vegetation clearing:
· An independent review and survey of Raymond Island noting unique flora and fauna habitat
· Raymond Island not to be categorized based on a general modelling of other forested areas of Victoria.
· A survey of the effects of previously burnt/ mechanically cleared sites
· A fire risk / fuel load survey undertaken
· Aboriginal Archaeological surveys completed.
· Environmental protection overlays adhered to and all fire protection plans implemented in the future to accommodate the Flora and fauna without disregard.
· Habitat protected for Raymond Islands unique species.
PUC sale time
Great opportunity to grab a bargain!
1 March 2015
Dolphin Disappearance
Summer rain
This week's rainfall brings us to nearly the average for this time of year in total - that actually hasn't happened in a long time! Last February we only had 7 mm & that all fell on 1 day! For the rest of the month there was no rain!
My figures differ slightly from the BOM measured in Bairnsdale, especially this month. Figures will vary from place to place, even across the island. However, in the end my $15 gauge is very close the the high tech BOM readings!
Has it been cool & wet? Yes! This year we have only had 10 days with a max over 30*C. Last year there were16. Also, we have only had 4 days this year where it was over 35*C compared to 10 last year (1/2 of those were over 40!). Our hottest day so far has been just under 39*C, last year we hit 44.6! Much cooler, that's why my grass is still green!
Can't believe we're in autumn!
(Mark provides our weekly readings on the RI Net home page.)
2015 Diary
- regular dates, including activities at the Hall and local farmers markets
- Forthcoming events, such as the World's Greatest Shave (coming on 12 March) or the fabulous first anniversary Open Day at Paynesville's Maritime Museum (on 8 March).
If you have an event planned or know of one that other Islanders would be interested to hear about, don't forget to let us know and include it on the Diary!
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